Tom-Tom Newspaper from East Central Community College

Recipients of Hall of Fame and other
honors were recognized during the annual
Awards Day program held April 23, 2018,
at East Central Community College in
Decatur.

Selection to the Hall of Fame is con-
sidered the highest honor a student can
receive at the college, according to Dr. Billy
Stewart, ECCC president, who presented
the awards.

“To be considered for the prestigious
honor,” Dr. Stewart said, “students must
demonstrate exemplary character, superior
scholarship, worthy leadership and con-
tribute to the betterment of Kast Central,
Community College.”

Hall of Fame inductees for 2018 and their
respective high schools include Makaeya
Brock, Jessica Everett and Reagan Gorgas,
all of Newton County; Mackenzie Johnson
and Marlee Parkes, both of Nanih Waiya,
and Peyton Ryals of Louisville.

Brock is a President’s and Dean’s List
scholar, president of the Student Body
Association, captain of the Centralettes
dance line and a vice president for Theta Xi
Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
She is a member of Vocé vocal ensemble,
concert choir, Baptist Student Union, War-
rior Corps and Phi Beta Lambda.

She was selected a sophomore Home-
coming Maid and was selected a beauty
during the annual ECCC beauty pageant.
In addition, she received first place in the
business presentation category at the Phi
Beta Lambda state leadership conference.

Brock is a graduate of Newton County

The Tom-Tom |

‘Withers of Philadelphia.

A Student Publication of

FAST CENTRAL

Gr@ > MEMPUr NGM iY. GFORIBILJE Gilet
volume 69, Number 3

April 2018 :

High School and is the daughter of Scott
and Daniele Brock of Decatur.

Those nominating her wrote, “Makaeya is
an outgoing student in and out of the class-
room. She is very dedicated to her studies
and her campus and church activities. She
is a great example of what an Kast Central
Warrior should look like.”

Everett is a President’s and Dean’s List
scholar and serves as president of Theta
Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, region-
al secretary for Phi Theta Kappa, state
president for Phi Beta Lambda and presi-
dent of ECCC’s Theta Chi Chapter of PBL,
secretary of the Student Body Association,
Drum Major for the Wall O’ Sound March-
ing Band, and president of the President’s
Council. She is a member of concert band,
pep band, winter guard, Warrior Corps,
Students Against Destructive Decisions,
Environmental Club, SkillsUSA, Students
for Life, College Republicans and the Wo-
He-Lo yearbook and Tom Tom newspaper
staffs.

She was selected Homecoming Maid of
Honor, received a first place award in the
small business management category at
the national Phi Beta Lambda leadership
conference and received the Dr. Margaret
Mosal Memorial Scholarship for Leader-
ship.

Everett is the daughter of John and Don-
na Everett of Decatur and Susan and Jon

Those nominating her wrote, “Jessica
Everett is the epitome of an all-around stu-

See AWARDS, Page 5

JOHNSON

PARKES

Ryals, Everett

| Annual EC Warrior

named Vir, &
Miss ECCC

Peyton Ryals of Louisville and Jessica Everett of
Decatur were selected Mr. and Miss East Central
Community College for the 2017-18 school year by
a recent vote of the student body.

A sophomore business administration major,
Everett serves president of Phi Theta Kappa, Phi
Beta Lambda, and the President’s Council. She
also serves as Mississippi/Louisiana region sec-
retary for Phi Theta Kappa and state president .
of Phi Beta Lambda. She is a drum major for the
Wall O’ Sound Marching Band and is secretary of
the Student Body Association. She serves as vice
president of Diamond Darlings and is a member
of Warrior Corps, Students Against Destructive
Decisions and Phi Beta Lambda Hall of Fame. She
was selected a freshman Homecoming maid and
was this year’s Maid of Honor.

She is a graduate of Newton County High School

and is the daughter of John and Donna Everett of
Decatur and Susan and Jon Withers of Philadel-
phia.

A sophomore agricultural engineering major,
Ryals serves as the vice president for membership
for Phi Theta Kappa, vice president of Students
Against Destructive Decisions, vice president of
College Republicans and is a member of Warrior
Corps. A President’s and Dean’s List scholar, he

serves as a dormitory resident assistant and par-
ticipates in College Worship and intramural sports.

A graduate of Louisville High School, he is the
son of Shonna and Kevin Ryals of Louisville.

Peyton Ryals and Jessica Everett were selected Mr. and Miss East
Central Community College for 2017-18.

ATUL lastly WU VL

held Friday, May 11

The 17th Warrior Golf Classic sponsored by
the East Central Community College Alumni As-
sociation will be held on Friday, May 11, the first
time the annual event has been held on a Friday
to better accommodate the participating golfers.

The tournament will again be held at the
Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Choctaw, moving
this year to the Oaks Course to provide golfers
with a different venue.

Those are just some of the changes for the 2018
tournament, but unchanged is that all proceeds
support the scholarship program at East Central
Community College.

Last year’s tournament raised more than
$10,000 for the scholarship program, and tourna-
ment coordinator David LeBlanc said some of the
changes for this year’s tournament are designed
to increase that number.

“This tournament first and foremost is about
raising money to help deserving students defray
the cost of an education at East Central Commu-
nity College,” said LeBlanc, director of alumni re-
lations and the foundation at the college. “We've
made some changes that we hope will attract
more participation and in turn more funding for
student scholarships.”

What hasn’t changed for the Warrior Golf Clas-
sic is an outstanding golf course and the many
amenities offered to the participants.

The four-person scramble will start an hour

ao!

EC PHOTO later this year, at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The Warrior

See GOLF, Page 3

Fisher selected ECCC Instructor of the Year

Sharon LeJeune Fisher of
Meridian, biological sciences
instructor, was selected East
Central Community College’s
‘Instructor of the Year” for 2018
and will be recognized during
the college’s Administration,
Faculty and Staff Association
(AFSA) end-of-the-year lun-
cheon in May.

Fisher began her tenure at
East Central in 2002, having
previously served as a science
instructor at Meridian High
School from 1990-2002. She also
taught as an adjunct instructor
for ECCC from 1996 to 2002,
and taught four years at Kate
Griffin Junior High School in
Meridian. She was a devel-
opmental chemist for Vanity
Fair in Monroeville, Ala., for
five years prior to her teaching
career,

When students describe

Fisher’s classes and her teach-
ing style, they use words like
energy and excitement. They
say she always keeps class in-
teresting. So how does one keep
that level of high energy and
excitement after so many years
in the classroom?

“The students are my major
motivator,” Fisher said. “It is so
great to work with them each
day and hopefully help them
learn and prepare for their fu-
ture careers. It is a joy to teach
such wonderful students. They
are my source of energy!”

In her 32 years as a classroom
instructor, Fisher has received
various awards included being
named HEADWAE (Higher
Education Appreciation Day:
Working Toward Academic
Excellence) Instructor of the
Year, an honor presented by the
Mississippi Legislature, in 2003

and 2017; selected a Lamplight-
er in 1999, which recognized
outstanding community and
junior college faculty across the
state; and she was previously
selected ECCC Instructor of the
Year in 2004.

Although she has been rec-
ognized many times for out-
standing teaching, she is quick
to count among her greatest
memories the time she has
spent with students.

“After 32 years, there are so
many! But they always involve
working with students and col-
leagues. Whether it’s an animal
story memory, an Environmen-
tal Club memory, or one of the
many memories our science fac-
ulty have, they always involve
our students!”

When asked her best ad-
vice for students, Fisher said,
“Study, study, study! Always

Sharon Lejeune Fisher was selected the 2017-18 East Central Com-
munity College Instructor of the Year.

read the chapters! Always go to
class! You will set yourself up to
succeed! Manage your time well
and you will have time for the
other activities that are such
fun and together will make for

such wonderful memories of
EC!”

Fisher received her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in biology
and her educational specialist

See FISHER, Page 5

The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College

CLASS FAVORITES - These students at East Central Community College were recently selected class favorites follow-

ing a vote of th
Fulton and Adri

Hayden Hudspeth and Carley Puckett, both of Lo
freshmen Chandler Denton of Morton, Robert Sanford
ville; and (back row, from left) sop
sophomores Taylor Hardy of Stark

East Central Commu-
nity College sophomores
Reagan Gorgas of Decatur
and Laicon Partain of
Sebastopol were named to
the 2018 Phi Theta Kappa
Community and Junior
Colleges All-Mississippi
Academic Team.
The All-Mississippi

Community College Ac-
ademic Team recognizes

scholarly achievements
and deacexs hip accom-
wr of

to become a physical
: bist, was one of 48

Against Destructive
Decisions. She is a mem-
ber of Phi Beta Lambda,
concert choir and Warrior
Corps and served as vice
president of her freshman
class.
Gorgas is a graduate

of Newton County High
School and is the daughter
of Dan and Lisa Gorgas of

Decatur.
Partain, an accounting
major who also plans

1 Sa eS ee

e Student Body Association. Pictured are (front row, from left) freshmen Alayna Spears of Collinsville, Sadie
enne Sisson, both of Philadelphia and Miranda Watson of Louisville; (second row, from left) sophomores
uisville; Joseph Blount of Philadelphia; and Patrick Riley of Hickory;
of Decatur, Austin Taylor of Newton, and Clark Graham of Louis-

homores Caleb McGrew of Meridian and Jonathan Hall of Philadelphia. Not pictured are
ville and Destiny Barrett of Decatur.

sphincters a A
Gorgas, Partain named to PTK academic team

April 2018

John Johnson of

Morton joins ECCC
Board of Trustees

_ John Johnson of Morton
is the newest member of
the East Central Com-
munity College Board of
Trustees, representing
Pes County.
1978 gradu
Central J nor Caen
Johnson was recently ap-
pointed by the Scott Con
ty Board of Supervisors ai
to fill the spot of Vernon
Crotwell who retired afte
29 years of service on hes
ECCC Board of Trustees
Johnson attended his fir st
Board of Trustees meeti :
in February. *
Johnson spent more

than 30 years in educa-
tion, including as princi-
pal of Morton Elementa
School from 2000-2013

He also served as assis-
tant principal for five
years and as a teacher
and coach for 10 years at
Morton Middle School. He
also taught in the Madi-
son County, Jackson Pub-
lic, and Warren County
school systems.

He holds a bachelor’s de-

ere Fe

gree in
elemen-
tary ed-
ucation
from the
Univer-
Sity of
Missis-
sippi,
anda
master’s
degree

:
Se Cnty education, a’
pata 8 degree in school
ceatistration, and an ed-
ns eee Specialist degree '
a fon pe education,
ae 1SSissippi Col-
m Johnson is a member of
aptist Church of
orton and
oard

JOHNSON

nal Hospital.
his wife of 33
ue have two
5 2 S
ewitt of Clinton, aa
va Beth J ohnson of

on, both graduates of

East C
Colle ee Community

Cost for individual
Javers is $165. If needed,

{it
oak U1

® She received a $1,000
scholarship.

She is a President’s List
scholar and was selected
HEADWAE Student of
the Year. She serves as
co-editor of the yearbook,
vice president of scholar-
ship for Phi Theta Kappa,
co-president of Warrior
Corps, president of Cath-
olic Campus Ministries,
and president of Students

DECA and is a member of
the Wall O’ Sound March-
ing Band, concert choir,
Warrior Corps and Jazz
Band.

Partain is a graduate
of Newton County High
School and is the daugh-
ter of Robbie and Vivian
Partain of Sebastopol.

They were honored
along with other outstand-
ing community and junior

Laicon Partain, left and Reagan Gorgas were named to
the 2018 Phi Theta Kappa Community and Junior Colleges
All-Mississippi Academic Team.

college students from
across the state during an
event in Jackson.

Both honorees received
medallions, certificates,
and printed resolutions
from the Mississippi Sen-
ate and House of Repre-
sentatives.

The All-Mississippi Ac-
ademic Team program is
coordinated by Phi Theta
Kappa Honor Society, the
Mississippi Association of
Community and Junior
Colleges and the Missis-
sippi Community College
Board.

a Dulfet tuncn and
awards ceremony around
3:30 p.m.

Golfers can register
online at www.eccc.edu/
estore. Gold Sponsorships
are available for $700,
which includes entry fees
for a four-person team and
a Hole Sponsorship. Food
and Beverage Sponsor-
ships, Hole Sponsorships,
and T-Shirt Sponsorships
are $200 each.

son team.

All registered players
will receive range balls
before play, greens fees,
cart, and lunch. Mulligans
will also be available for
purchase.

The deadline to register
is Monday, May 7.

For more information,
contact LeBlanc at dleb-
lanc@eccc.edu or 601-635-
6327.

For the second straight
semester, East Central
Community College has
experienced the highest
percentage enrollment
increase among the 15
community and junior
colleges in the state of
Mississippi.

ECCC reported a
10.3 percent increase in
unduplicated head count
enrollment for the spring
2018 semester, compared
to the spring 2017 semes-
ter, according to the 10th
day enrollment report

released last week by the
Mississippi Community
College Board.

The college also had a
_ 6.5 percent increase in

taken.

The second highest
percentage increase in
unduplicated headcount
for spring 2018 was 7.0
percent and the only other
increase in semester cred-
it hours was 3.4 percent.

East Central expe-
rienced a 10.3 percent
increase in unduplicated
headcount in fall 2017
which was also the largest
among all two-year and
four-year schools in Mis-
sissippi.

East Central Communi-
ty College President Dr.
Billy Stewart credits the
college’s fall and spring

enrollment successes on
several factors.

Page 3

EC PHOTO

BEAUTY PAGEANT —
Freshman liberal arts major
Corban Nutt (center) was
selected as East Central
Community College’s Most
Beautiful at the annual
Beauty Pageant held

March 5 in Huff Auditorium.
Twenty-eight East Central
students participated in the
event. Named Beauties
were (from left) Makaeya
Brock, Laken Winstead,
Rebekah Scitzs, and

Allison Harris. Contestants
participated in interview,
Opening number, and eve-
ning gown.

EC again experiences highest
percentage enrollment increase

two Instructional Counsel-
or positions to assist cur-
rently enrolled students in
persisting to graduation.”
Stewart also indicated
that the opening of the
new Women’s Residence
Hall in August 2017 as-
sisted with the enrollment
increases as it has pro-
vided a minimum of 112
additional living spaces to
help reduce a waiting list
of female students wish-
ing to reside on campus.
The college’s dual credit
enrollment also has grown
substantially thanks to
the implementation in fall
2017 of a pilot program
allowing a tiered tuition

SE ee eee el Ae ee Pe Ree Pee

SUBMITTED PHOTO

ECCC Phi Beta Lambda students receiving awards during the State Leadership Confer-
ence included (front row, from left) Alexus Patrick, Mickenzie Myers, Shelby Greenwood,
Onelia Prez and Autumn McMillian; (second row, from left) Brittany Watkins, Reagan Gor-
gas, Sydney Bacumn and Alexis Rover; (third row, from left) Abby Smith, Jessica Ever-
ett, Jackie Cates and Samantha McMullan; (fourth row, from left) Jacob Plaisance, Drew
Chapman, Jacob Hemphill and Guillermo Fermin; and (back row, from left) Joseph Blount,

Justin Wilcher and Sam Loper.

EC PBL students receive top

honors in state competition

Members of East Cen-
tral Community College's
Theta Chi Chapter of Phi
Beta Lambda received top
honors during the State
Leadership Conference
and qualified for nationa
compétition in 16 catego- i
ries. National competitior
will be held this summer
in Baltimore, Md. a ue
state conference ree
at MississipP! be ea

omen 10
ee Chi also ia
first place in dete *
for the March of pea,
first place 10 Miss!
pi for the larg yi
chapter, recelve ind was
tion Recognition (ig Seal
recognize asa

Individual rec?

Wilcher °

ice preside” ’, phia,
16 er of Philade’P oseph

Inducted in the Missis-
sippi Phi Beta Lambda
Hall of Fame were Ever-
ett, and Khalil Triplett
and Kiara Cunningham,
both of Philadelphia, for
their first place nation-
al recognition in Small
Business Plan during the
2017 National Leadership
Conference in Anaheim,
Calif.

State award winners
include Reagan Gorgas
of Decatur and Guiller-
mo Fermin and Brittany
Watkins, both of Forest,
first place, business pre-
sentation; Jackie Cates
of Newton and Samantha
McMullan of Decatur, first
place, computer anima- 4
tion; Nicole Ferguson an
Khalil Triplett, both o
Philadelphia, ae Bate
financial services; Pag
Grgean one uture
phia, first De) a.

i Execu Ne he
iplett, Green-
Berene Fate Wilcher

and Sam Loper; both of

delphia, first place,

Phila yocedure;
; ptary P :
par Hamplount of P ire 5
“orepia, MickenZie Oy
ee fe orest, 2 yeti
Brock of De de ‘market
jace, ites? "C anne
ae campale f Forest
. sw .
Hot Wileher firet place

local chapter annual
business report; Sydney
Baucum and Jessica Ever-
ett, both of Decatur, first
place, statistical analysis
and decision making; Au-
tumn McMillan and Abby
Smith, both of Philadel-
phia, and Watkins, first
place, emerging business
issues; Cates, second
place, accounting analy-
sis and decision making;
Alexis Rover of Little
Rock, second place, public
speaking; Baucum, sec-
ond place, job interview;
Everett, second place,
client service; Blount and
McMullan, second place,
forensic accounting; Rob-
ert Chapman of Union,
Jacob Hemphill of Deca-
tur, and Jacob Plaisance
of Union, second place,
business law; Fermin,
third place, impromptu
speaking; Smith, Gor-
gas, and Alexus Patrick
of Forest, third place,
social media campaign;
Chapman, Hemphill, and
Plaisance, third place,
marketing analysis and
decision making; and Sam
Loper, fourth place, busi-
ness communications.
Christy Ferguson,
Thomas Fortenberry
and Judy Hurtt serve as
advisors.

in which all students are
enrolled, over last spring,
also the highest percent-
age increase among the

state’s two-year colleges.

ECCC’s unduplicated
headcount for spring 2018
after the first 10 days of
classes was 2,275 stu-
dents, compared to 2,062
students the same time a
year ago.

In addition to East
Central, only three of the
other 14 community or
junior colleges in Missis-
sippi reported increases in
unduplicated head count
enrollment for spring
2018, while only one other
community or junior col-
lege reported an increase
in semester credit hours

in fall 2016 and spring
2017,” said Stewart.
“Therefore, a lot of effort

and focus was put on both
recruiting and retaining
students. I’m extremely
proud of our faculty and
staff for their hard work
in helping us to both at-
tract and retain outstand-
ing students.

“A restructuring of our
Student Services Division
also allowed us to utilize
three Student Recruiters/
Enrollment Specialists
who work with high school
students in our five-coun-
ty district and with other
prospective students to
help them enroll at ECCC.
In addition, the restruc-
turing allowed us to create

fulfilling our vision to be a
nationally recognized and
locally preferred,” said
Stewart. “With our strong
commitment to Student
Success and Teaching &
Learning, students know
that if they enroll at East
Central Community Col-
lege, they will be prepared
well for the next step in
their educational or pro-
fessional journey.”

For more information on
enrolling at East Central
Community College in De-
catur, including on-cam-
pus housing, scholarships
and dual credit, please
contact the Student Ser-
vices Division at go2ec@
eccc.edu or 877-GO-2-EC-
CC.

EAST CENTRAL

C'O MEMAUV Ne Nite G (@olak EYGVE

raduation

Friday, May 4, 2018

6 p.m.

Neshoba County Coliseum

Philadelphia

Page 4 The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College April 2018
{ , Y + by & ; i : } ' ay Pu
i eo : gee ea} |

iB EC PHOTO
©mMetowns include
ulay both of Union,

18. Inductees
1 and thej
i Alexander and ate

(front row, from left) Allison Harris of Collinsville, Stacia Cleveland of Decatur, Brooke Rawson of Forest, Nena Hammond of Decatur, Moll
Bala
oykin all of Louisville, Sarah Holl rth
ingswo

PTK INDUCTEES - These East Central Community College students were inducted into Theta Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in Spring 20

Samantha McMullan of Decatur, Kalyn Smith of Carthage, Anna Brooke Skinner of Union, Savannah Watkins, Kayla Lovorn and Madison
on, J
F Cant ect of Forest Rebekah Scitzs
af i

i i from left) Woody Vowell of Ackerman, Mason Garner of Newt
catur, and Brianna Ickom and Claire Harris both of Lake; (second row, ! |
7 petin t Marla Hudson of Louisville, Adrienne Sisson of Philadelphia, NaDayjah Keeton of Lake, Marzell Triplett of Forest, Amia Henry of Carthage, Ma
ick, both ; f Forest, Niley Craven of Newton, Sara Mazzella of Lawrence, Grace Addy of Carthage, Tori Ferguson of Decatur, and Jacob School of Madisoe 2°° Lee) andar
Patrick, ot MA ah rf Letrice Strength of Carthage, Jeremy Griffin of Union, Christopher Baker, Ashley Malone, and Iris Keen, all of Louisville, Canisius row, from | oft)
Austin nti ts hy es ta of Collinsville, Robyn Gilbert of Forest, Santorrius Jackson of Meridian, Celeeka Roby of Carthage, Landon Gibson an cane Of Lake, Halli
Feasel of P. ila le pnia, H y era of Bogota, Colombia, Bethany Wellerman of Lawrence, and Hayley Null of Collinsville; and (back row, from left) Parker Leitaker of cot, both cre
ae Pei hee? Whee of Carthage, Nathan Davis of Decatur, Chris Bates of Sebastopol, Philip peat ide pes Se of Collinsville, ie arthage, Daniel
nh ts ae Sebastopol, Ryan Ethridge of Collinsville, Beau Roberts of Meridian, wa ail i erkinston, Chris Sharp Oe Moore of Decal
ee Grimes of Lake, Clark Graham of Louisville, Drew Weir of Newton, and Jonathan Green o : |

Matthew

eS

EC PHOTO
DECA WINNERS - East Central Community College DECA students received various awards during
state DECA competition held recently at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl. ty ae Sekar ae tN erasrs
will advance to national competition scheduled in Washington, D.C., in April. Awar recipie "CULINARY ART WINNERS ~ East Central Community College Culinary
(front row, from left) Brianna Campbell of Decatur, sixth place, restaurant and food sihlee phd) auty is Techiclogy tiidertal To meMI Ade An eeantotese! Alaina Ban
Alaina Barrier of Philadelphia, fifth place, restaurant and food service management; Laicon Partain o : L ; ( HEGTERCRMTERa ean’ place hon
i i i ics: i is of Lake, first rier of Philadelphia and Sri Grant of Conehatta el ors
Sebastopol and Albany Davis of Newton, sixth place, business ethics; and Claire Harris fo) i BECASRETORInEI fecently ott,

i isi ing; f Union and Summer _ in the culinary category of the state p y e
place, fashion merchandising and marketing; and (back row, from left) Sam Moore of ! hide ties Coniestnl cecn| Wena UavaEtinGteacWiand Bary Kant
Henry of Decatur, first place, sports and entertainment marketing; and Hailey Morris of Union and An- Clyde : art. We uriey, mae !
aren Elberson of Bad Risioncch Germany, second place, international marketing. Wanda Hurley, Ruth serve as advisors. DECA is an international Sens oe school and
Gregory and Barry Karrh serve as advisors. DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, Hie an entrepreneur-
college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, ship in business, finance, hospitality, and marke ne Sales and service. The

hospitality, and marketing sales and service. The organization prepares leaders and entrepreneurs for organization prepares leader s and entrepreneurs for careers and education
careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas. in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas.

FEATURE TEACHER
John Everett

Shack came With over 30

0 proj
John Everett is an Electrical eee to build them aie
Technology Instructor at East Cen- 1s What spark - S
tral. i and desire to ed my interest

teach others.

@ What made you want to be-
come a teacher?

The reason that I wanted to be-
come a teacher is because I wanted
to share the knowledge of my trade,
and to spread the enthusiasm that I
have for Electrical Technology.

@ What is ‘
about EC? > UF favorite thing

My favorite thi
in i
pecple TI work with EEC is ibe
aculty, staff, and the students i

@What are so
; bies outside of
@ What is the highest degree j
you hold?

I have two associate degrees and
two certificates and over 18 hours of

other work at the university level.

@ Where all have you taught?

I have taught at Meridian Com-
munity College and East Central
Community College.

@ Why did you choose to teach aR Ae a ave .
Electrical Technology? me. I have always found Electrica] ire Ss er? °Pecial
I chose to teach Electrical Tech- and Electronics interesting, froma to : ‘ Plans for this x
nology because in a way it chose é €la d

: m
very young age. The kit from Radio family and spend time aoe

April 2018

The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College

Page 5

ECCC reaches
40 percent

graduation rate

East Central Community ame
‘oved a 40 percent, three-
has tea ation rate for the first
y a decade, which is ;
ly higher than state an

i ] graduation rates.
ee a complishment means that
of first-time, full-time
ho enrolled in ECCC

: mpleted a degree or
in fall oe the college by spring

percen

rate. .
; I’s three-year gradu

+ 24 percent five

ae : 7 ont ma
building towa?™ . Nee ae
i ng in
i mplementl plane
ebact itiatives over the
the past five years.

ty towards a Success
apis Fy
ave paving oae dividen Te nbine
i .
Oe dente. said I
with our trans
10 students whe e
freshmen are 4
educational outcome
“Byeryone on ©

: e0
e importance |
to our students is prior to leaving

dents not complet-
degree, 21 percent

uni-
mpus comm
“Our efforts 4 a cane Institutional

East Central, and it has created a
culture of completion that is making
a positive difference in the lives of
our students in so many ways.”
According to the National Center
for Education Statistics, the most
recent 150 percent (three-year) grad-
uation rate for all two-year colleges
in the United States is 31.6 per-
cent. According to the 2016 IPEDS
(Integrated Postsecondary Educa-
tion Data System) Data Feedback
Report, the most recent 150 percent
graduation rate for all two-year col-
leges in Mississippi is 33 percent.

eee — eee

FISHER

From Page 1

degree from the University of West
Alabama (previously Livingston
University). She also holds an asso-
ciate degree from East Mississippi
Community College.

She is a member of Kappa Kap-

_pa Jota, National Science Teachers

Association, Association of South-
eastern Biologists and Mississippi
Science Teachers Association. She is
a past president and vice president
of AFSA and participates in Relay
for Life.

East Central receives clean fifth-year
interim report from SACSCOC

The Southern Associa-
tion of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges
(SACSCOC), the accrediting
body for East Central Com-
munity College in Decatur,
has accepted the college’s
Fifth-Year Interim Report
with no additional informa-
tion requested.

ECCC submitted its
Fifth-Year Interim Report,
along with its Quality
Enhancement Plan Impact
Report, in September 2017.
SACSCOC’s decision on
those reports came at its
annual board meeting held
in Dallas in December.

According to ECCC Presi-
dent Dr. Billy Stewart, it is
uncommon for an institution
to have a report that does
not require additional infor-
mation or reports be submit-
ted to SACSCOC in order to
be judged in compliance with
the accrediting body’s stan-
dards and requirements.

“I am extremely proud of
our college,” said Stewart.
“This is a wonderful accom-
plishment that was a total
team effort by the entire
campus community. I would
venture to guess that not all
institutions have a ‘clean’ re-
port and many are required
to provide additional infor-
mation or reports in order
to be judged in compliance,

which makes the status of
our reports that much more
satisfying.

“Tt also is a wonderful
reflection on the educational
programs and services we
provide for every student at
East Central Community
College every single day.”

SACSCOC, with head-
quarters in Decatur, Ga., is
one of eight regional ac-
crediting bodies for colleges
and universities in the
U.S, serving institutions in
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and Latin America.

Colleges and universi-
ties that are accredited
by SACSCOC must seek
reaffirmation of that accred-
itation every 10 years, which
requires an off-site campus
visit by a peer committee
and submission of a five-year
Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP). At the midway point
of the accreditation process,
institutions must submit a
Fifth-Year Interim Report on
progress since the previous
off-site campus visit, includ-
ing a report on the impact of
the QEP.

The QEP is designed to
improve an aspect of student
learning or the environ-
ment for student success.

Titled The Warrior Path to
Success, ECCC’s QEP was
designed to enhance student
learning and engagement
for first-time, first-semester,
full-time, at-risk students
enrolled in developmental
classes. Those students were
placed in an academically
challenging seminar in the
first semester of the initial
year of enrollment with

a goal to develop college
success skills to promote
retention and persistence

to completion and gradua-
tion. ECCC’s review of The
Warrior Path to Success
indicated that the initiative
improved retention and
completion for the students
it served.

According to David Case,
ECCC’s vice president for
institutional research and
effectiveness, ECCC is
already preparing for its
next 10-year reaffirmation of
accreditation by SACSCOC,
an intensive process that
involves every area of cam-
pus. The deadline to submit
the compliance certifica-
tion report is spring 2021,
followed by a visit to campus
by a SACSCOC peer review
committee in fall 2021.

ECCC’s next QEP plan
will be due to SACSCOC in
late summer or early fall
2021.

ogy Award. Hutchison Elementary Andrew F. Webb Foot-

wrote, “Mackenzie is truly
deserving of this nom1-

is a resident assistant. He
is a member of Students

Recipients of healthcare
education awards include

Education Award; Shar-
lee Walley of Forest and

ball Award; Demetreuna
Rankin of Forest, Jack B.

AWARDS

for Life, Students Against

nation. Along with being ee, batha Alford of Lake Gancaviiba Wamelev of Mayo Phi Theta K:

m Page A Destructive Decisions, Tabatha Z nsley y i Theta Kappa
Si is Ae oneal ae she and participates inintra- | Associate Degree Nursing Decatur, co-recipients Award; and Mackenzie

dent. She has 4 distinct Warrior sot a “lz Outstanding Achievement Mississippi Business Edu- Johnson of Nanih Waiya,
; heraca- isinvolvedinmanyclubs murals. 8 en) maior Aadotlation Award, :

Dr. Edwin Miller Medical
Services Award.

Faculty Memorial
Awards were presented
to Matthew Moore of

way of balancing
demic, social, and orga-
nizational activities. She
doesn’t just participate in
her school and communi-
ty, she leads, organizes

He was selected Mr.
East Central Community
College, a freshman class
favorite and received nu-
merous scholarships.

and organizations while
maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
She is driven and always
gives her best effort in all
that she strives to do. ...

Anna Skinner of Union,
Alyne Simmons Recruit-
ment Grant; Jakeem
Triplett of Philadelphia,
The Tom-Tom Award: and

Meridian, Practical Nurs-
ing Award. —

Those receiving spe-
cial awards were Sydney
Baucum of Decatur,

and ires oth d She always has a smile on Ryals is a graduate of au : | Dee bee meee
ie camer aa we ge Dd iseager toas- Louisville High School Citizenship Award and Reagan Harris of Phila- Memorial Sahdlarehine
_ Gorgas is a President’s sist and is the son of Kevin Astronomy Club Award; —delphia, The Lucille Wood Savannah Watkins of

B18 with whatever needs delphia, T
LAD > MeNnaALlave haw

and Shonna Rvals of Lou- George Farid of Missis-

~ YVOlTPs, Val PUs VAlHhOlCc
Ministries, and Students
Against Destructive
Decisions. She is co-edi-
tor of the yearbook, vice
president of scholarship
for Theta Xi Chapter of
Phi Theta Kappa, vice
president of the Student
Body Association, and a
member of Centralettes,
Environmental Club, con-
cert choir, College Repub-
licans, Sigma Sigma Mu
Tau. Students for Life and
Phi Beta Lambda.

She was selected
HEADWAE Student of
the Year and was select-
ed for Phi Theta Kappa’s
All-Mississipp1 Academic
First Team.

Gorgas is a graduate
of Newton County High
School and is the daugh-
ter of Dan and Lisa Gor-

Decatur.
ee nominating her
wrote, “Reagan exudes nu-
merous positive quae
She is very active on t S;
East Central cgay ne a
takes pride in what s aie d
does. She has particip
i different com-
pret i ctivities.
munity service a
She is always ©

Bh he takes
and smiling. ste activities

her studies a7 A
seriously ene a
an is suc
fe ee and well-rounde

ink she
lady I thin
aS cat Hall of Fame
candidate.” ;
Johnson 1s 4 PY”
the Lady War” r sO
team, Phi

ber of
ep) ball

B rya n B u r

larshiP®- te of
eee a gre hd is tb 4
Nanih Waly E pee 42
daughter ° oul f phila-
Marla Johns?” i
delphia. minatiné he
Those 1°

Z41€ Wilt reach tile 2Oals
she has set for herself of
becoming an occupational
therapist. She is black
and gold through and
through and will always
be a great ambassador for
ECCC.”

Parkes is a President’s
List scholar and member
of the Lady Warrior soft-
ball team, Warrior Corps,
Baptist Student Union
Praise Team and BSU
Council, Students Against
Destructive Decisions,
Fellowship of Christian
Athletes, Sigma Sigma
Mu Tau, Phi Theta Kap-
pa, and College Worship.

She received numerous
scholarships, the National
Junior College Athlet-
ic Association Pinnacle
Award for Excellence and
the Mississippi Associa-
tion for Community and
Junior Colleges Distin-
guished Academic All-
State Award.

Parkes is a graduate of
Nanih Waiya High School
and is the daughter of
Luke and Tammy Parkes
of Nanih Waiya.

Those nominating her
wrote, “Marlee is a true
Warrior. She has always
loved ECCC and has been
a part of the ECCC family
for many years through
her family who also at-
tended ECCC. In addition
to being 4 member of the

yrior softball
s been an
team, she be i Frere

ctive me 4 :
alabé and org2uiZanen

intained a 4.0
as main :
She ha’ nursing major

: : xtremely
while peing © us. Marlee

busy on ble hard-

working s

LMOSe MOMUTIAUIIS, tiiih
wrote, “Peyton is a star
student and human being
—he is a hard worker in
the classroom, a kind
individual, a leader, a lev-
el-headed and respectful
young man. He deserves
this honor more than any
student I have taught over
the last two years. ... Pey-
ton embodies everything
that ECCC stands for.

He is an extremely hard
worker and shows up and
works from the beginning
of the event to the end. He
shows initiative and takes
direction well. He is also a
true leader. He definitely
deserves to be in the Hall
of Fame.”

Additional honors
presented during Awards
Day include the following:

Career award recipients
include Jonathan Collins
of Forest, Residential
Carpentry Award; Elaina
Boyle of Philadelphia,
Cosmetology Award;
Taylor Akins of Phila-
delphia and Jesse Alan
Smith of Union, co-recip-
ients, Welding & Cutting
“Taylor Cup;” and Chaney
Comans of Sebastopol,
“Career Student of the
Year.”

Technical awards were
presented to Brent Good-
en of Hickory, Collision
Repair Technology Award;
Scott Main of Meridian,
Automotive Technology
Award and “Technical
Student of the Year;” Ta-
kara Bingham of Noxapa-

ter and Stephanie Rand of
Bay Springs, co-recipients,

Early Childhood Educa-
tion Technology Award;
Tyler Withers of Walnut
Grove, Electrical Technol-
ogy Award; Leonard Nel-
son of Union and Darby
Kilpatrick of Conehatta,
co-recipients, Heating and
Air Conditioning Technol-

ogy Award; Alaina Barrier

of Philadelphia, Culinary
Arts Technology Award

and Hotel and Restaurant

Management Technology

Award; Kevin Chapman of

Newton, Precision Manu-
facturing and Machining
Technology Award; and

Antonio King of Carthage,
Network Support Technol-

FAM PULIAROS Lill itera
Kappa Scholarship;
Mackenzie Johnson of
Nanih Waiya, Dr. Mar-
garet Mosal for Leader-
ship Scholarship; Brady
Thrash of Sebastopol,
Alford J. Deaton Physics
Award; Mikiyala Wells
of Little Rock and Vimal
Patel of Carthage, East
Central Environmental
Club Award; Kristen Ken-
nedy of Union, Richard
Fisher Organic Chemistry
Award; Cayman Ruffin
of Philadelphia, Anthony
Coleman Men’s Basketball
Award; Cory Furlow of
Clinton and Carolyn Nick-
les of Pelahatchie, co-re-
cipients, Roy Pete Award
for Soccer; Jack Vidals of
Chunky, Elisabeth Hall
of Mendenhall and Meilii
Tumbling-Jordan of New-
ton, co-recipients, ECCC
Concert Choir Award;
Jonathan Hall of Phil-
adelphia, EC ENCORE
Award; Sydney Luvene of
Lauderdale, ECCC Gospel
Choir Award; Zackary
Nowell of Philadelphia, S.
Lebrun Hutchinson Engi-
neering Scholarship; Ryan
Ethridge of Collinsville,
Freshman Mathematics
Award; Julia Johnston
of Florence, Sophomore
Mathematics Award and
Secondary Education
Award; Madison Boykin of
Preston, Myrtle R.

MAW ALU WOLG plvoeuwu uw
Grace Addy of Carthage,
Billy Wayne Baucum
Secondary Education
Award; Landrey Godwin
of Newton, Opal McMul-
lan Dickerson Elemen-
tary Education Award;
Eric Malone of Carthage,
W.A. Coursey, Jr. En-
gineering Award; Cory
Furlow of Clinton, Danny
Ray Killens Engineering
Award; Tracie King of
Union, Ruth Carr-Vincent
Academic Award for Ex-
cellence in Non-Tradition-
al Education; Makaeya
Brock of Decatur, Alatha
Chaney English Award;
Justin Wilcher of Phila-
delphia, Sara Carr Dea-
ton Business Technology
Award; Miriam Patrick
of Forest, Sue Yarbrough
Fulgham Speech Award;
Tom Langelaar of Veld-
hoven, Netherlands,
Arno Vincent Award for
Academic Excellence in
Athletics; Bailey Smith
of Philadelphia, William
S. Giffin Men’s Intra-
mural Award; Autumn
Taylor of Newton, Earline
Wood Memorial Award
for Women’s Basketball;
Thurston McCarty of
Shubuta, Howard Ses-
sums Men’s Basketball
Award; Javontae Spivey of
Forest, Homer F. Hunter
Athletic Managers Award;
Aaron Rainey of Saucier,

Yearbooks
Available NOW!)

Come get your 20I7-18
Wo-He-Lo Yearbook
in the bagement of

Huff Auditorium.

WUUM 272045, y Kee awn
Award; Larry Reed, Jr..

of Decatur, Dr. Shelby L.
Harris Memorial Scholar-
ship; Haileigh Cleveland
of Chunky, J. Wallace
Bedwell Business Award;
Andrew Weir of Newton,
Frank M. Cross Freshman
Chemistry Award; Joshua
Warnsley of Decatur, J.
Andy Miller Freshman
Engineering Award; Jesse
Alexander of Philadel-
phia, O.L. Newell Draft-
ing Award; Anna Brown of
Forest, Charles E. Pen-
nington Business Tech-
nology Award; Savanna
Baucum of Decatur,
Robert G. Fick Memori-

al Scholarship; Breann
Nicholson of Philadelphia
and Reagan Gorgas of De-
catur, co-recipients, Ruth
Hull Memorial Wo-He-Lo
Award; Jacob Edwards of
Decatur and Davis Lott

of Clinton, co-recipients,
Jamie Clark Memorial
Baseball Award; Christian
Sharpe of Walnut Grove,
Leon Eubanks Kaljyc-
Peers Leadership Award;
Miriam Patrick of Forest,
L.B. Simmons History
Award; Kalyn Smith of
Carthage, Thomas W.
Thrash Memorial Scholar-
ship; and Joshua Grimes
of Lake, General William
Patrick Wilson Academic
Scholarship.

STUDENTS: Yearbooke are included in your tuition!

The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College April 2018

arrior Athletics

Page 6

= ea

Former Northwest Missis-
sippi Community College and
Ole Miss basketball standout

. and Holmes Community Col-
lege women’s assistant coach
LaTaryl Williams is the new
head women’s basketball coach
at Hast Central Community
College.

Williams assumed his duties
following the conclusion of the
Holmes season. He takes over a
women’s program that qualified
for National Junior College Ath-
letic Association Region 23 play
in three of the past four seasons,
including a Mississippi Associ-
ation of Community and Junior
Colleges State Championship in

the 2015-16 season.

He replaces head men’s bas-
ketball coach Robert Thompson,
who coached both the ECCC

men’s and women’s teams

during the 2017-18 season.
“We are excited to welcome
LaTaryl Williams to the East

' Central family,” said ECCC

President Dr. Billy Stewart.
“After meeting with Coach
Williams during the interview
process, I believe he will exem-
plify the ‘EC Way—Excellence
with Class’ as he leads our Lady
Warrior basketball team. His
experience playing basketball at
the community college, univer-
sity, and professional levels, as
well as his experience serving
as an assistant coach at Holmes
Community College, will be
invaluable as he begins his
career as a head coach. I look
forward to his leadership of our
program.”

Williams just finished his
sixth season as assistant coach
for the women’s program at

Holmes Com-
munity Col-
lege in Good-
man, where
he has helped
lead the Lady
Bulldogs to
postseason
appearanc-
es the past
four seasons,
including the
semifinals of the 2016 NJCAA
Region 23 Tournament.

“First and foremost, I would
like to thank God for this
awesome opportunity,” said
Williams. “Once I decided to
get into coaching, being a head
coach on the collegiate level was
my ultimate goal. Secondly, I
would like to thank Dr. Billy
Stewart and Athletics Director
Chris Harris for believing in me

WILLIAMS

No. 15 EC Softball gets

road sweep at Hinds

Eagles are 18-14 overall and
11-7 in league play.

In the opener, the Lady
Warriors went up 3-0 after two
innings thanks to a Hinds’ error
and RBI doubles from Mackenzie
Johnson of Nanih Waiya and
Madalyn McMahon out of Ne- = lite “ #
shoba Central. After Hinds tied Bit % ¥ “i sh haaes

The No. 15 ranked East Cen-
tral Community College Lady
Warriors picked up an important
road doubleheader sweep over
the Hinds Community College
Lady Eagles Tuesday, April 10,
as the two teams fight for playoff
positioning in the MACJC soft-
ball standings.

The doubleheader was played

at René Warren Softball Field on

the Hinds campus in Raymond.
1 daruni

Bast Ce ti

owe hating, ia

the score 3-3 in the third, Kast pedblew
Central went back on top in the '
fourth on another Hinds’ error.

A double by Cassie Obman
of Ca! nis d give Hast

atherine Shell, shown

|game against Hinds.

n recent action, hit a two-run h

oe oii Ase bol

and my ability to lead this sto-
ried program. Their support of
the athletics programs at East
Central played a major part in
me accepting this position. I
look forward to working with
them to continue the success
of the East Central women’s
basketball program.

“Lastly, I would like to thank
the faculty and staff at Holmes
Community College. It has been
an amazing six years and I’ve
met some great people there. I
would like to especially thank
Coach Jamilah Andrews for
giving me an opportunity to
work as her assistant coach. '
The experience I’ve gained while
working under her tutelage has
given me a tremendous amount
of confidence to lead the Lady
Warriors. I want to ensure the
alumni and fans of East Central

Ree :
\ oy SS -

EC PHOTO
ome run in the

that we’re going to work hard
compete, and do it all the EC

ay, and that is with Excel-
lence and Class.”

A native of Oxford, Williams
was a standout player for Ox-
ford High School, averaging 23
points, nine rebounds and four
Steals per game as a senior and
earning All-State honors from
The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger
and the Class 4A North Most
Valuable Player award from
The Daily Journal in Tupelo
He also was the Most Valuable
Henne Player of the 1996

3 Spa
AD srtp} High School All-Star

He played two seasons
Northwest Mississippi cae
nity College in Senatobia befo
signing with the University of i

See WILLIAMS, Page 7

Kast
Central
Com-
munity
College
soph-
omore
infielder/
outfield-
er Wyatt
Ball was
named
the Mississippi Associa-
tion of Community and
Junior Colleges Baseball

Player of the Week for
March 19-25.
Pie

LRT ee ee, ee

vrith the sweep, tie dst ~
Central Lady Warriors improved
to 27-9 overall on the season and
14-8 in MACJC play. East Cen-
tral is now tied for third in the
league standings. The top four
teams host first-round playoff
series at the conclusion of the
regular season. The Hinds Lady

The No. 20 ranked East Cen-
tral Community College War-
riors had to overcome early leads
by Hinds Community College in
both games to earn an important
road doubleheader sweep over
the Eagles Tuesday, April 10, at
Joe G. Moss Field Raymond.

East Central trailed 5-0 after

the first inning of game one
before scoring the last nine runs
of the game for a 9-5 win. Hinds
again scored the first two runs
of game two, before the Warriors
scored the final three runs for

a 3-2 win in the seven-inning

contest.

With the MACJC sweep, East
Central is 22-10 overall on the
season and 11-5 andin third |
place in MACJC league play.
The Hinds Hagles are now 20-10
overall and 6-8 in MACJC play.

Hinds scored five runs in the
bottom of the first inning in
game one on just three hits. Two
hit batters and an East Central
error helped the Eagles in the
big inning. After that, Warrior
pitchers Payton Griffin and Will
Ross held Hinds scoreless the
next eight innings.

East Central got a run in the
second on a double by freshman

No. 20 East Central baseball picks u

Ken Scott of Clarkdale, two more
in the fourth on a single by fresh-

iviariee Farkes out of INanIn
Waiya would get the game-win-
ner for East Central in the top of
the seventh with an RBI single.
Hinds threatened in the bot-
tom of the seventh with a runner
on third and only one out, but
winning pitcher Kaitlyn Oswalt
out of Heritage Academy (Co-

man Alex Hay of Lewisburg,

and another on a fielder’s choice
in the fifth. The Warriors final-
ly got the lead in the seventh.
Freshman George Farid (Missis-
sauga, Ontario, Canada) tied the
game with an RBI single. After
two runs crossed the plate on

a Hinds’ error, freshman Zack
Hutchison of Ellisville singled in
a run to make the score 8-5.

The Warriors got an insurance
run in the top of the eighth on
a solo home run from freshman
Deon Leflore of Leake Central to
make the final score 9-5.

After a rough first inning,
Griffin, a right-hander out of He-
bron Christian School in Pheba,
settled down and allowed just
two hits and no runs over the
next six innings. He struck out
seven Hinds batters. Freshman
right-hander Will Ross of Her-
nando came on in the eighth and
pitched two scoreless innings of
one-hit ball for the save.

In the nightcap, Hinds again
grabbed an early lead with two
runs in the bottom of the first on
two hits. The Eagles would man-
age just one hit off East Central

pitching the next six innings.

The Warriors closed the gap
to 2-1 with an RBI single by
Farid in the top of the third and

earn the 0-0 Win, Oswalt struck
out eight batters in the game.

Big innings powered the Lady
Warriors in game two.

Trailing 2-0, East Central
scored five runs in the second,
including two on a single by
Kenyatta Moore of Philadelphia
and one on a single from Obman.

road sweep

Aiter riinds regained the lead
6-5 after four innings, East
Central had another five-run
inning in the fifth. Eva Scott
(Burleson, Texas, Centennial)
circled the bases on an error on
her fly to center. Katherine Shell

See SOFTBALL, Page 7

at Hinds

EC PHOTO

Deon Leflore is welcomed home by George Farid after hitting a home
run in recent action. Leflore hit a solo home run in the first game against

Hinds.

tied the game 2-2 on a double by
Davis Lott of Lewisburg in the
fourth. Another RBI single by
Farid in the fifth proved to be
the game-winner.

Brooks Warren of French
Camp Academy got the start
and the win for East Central.
The left-hander threw five and
a third innings and gave up two

runs on two hits while striking
out four batters. Right-hander
Dylan Marsh of Lake Cormorant
threw the final inning and two
thirds for the save.

Most home baseball games
can be heard on WKOZ Cruisin
98.3 or via audio stream and live
stream video at www.eccc.edu/
eccec-media.

Bhat Dotson of Philadelphia, campus. | —
are and Thurston McCarty of Taylor, |
aa Quitman were all select- a 5-7
ena ed to participate in the guard
Goileg, annual Mississippi Asso- who
Bf ciation of Community and prepped
soph- Junior Colleges All-Star at New-

i ee Basketball contests. ton High
ee The doubleheader was — School,
are: held Friday, April 13,in —_aver-

pe TAYLOR Brackeen-Wood Gymna- _ aged 10

Taylor of Newton, Jaquan

sium on the Kast Central

points, seven rebounds,

steals per game this

riors.

the team with seven
rebounds per game.

season for the Lady War-

Dotson, a 6-4 guard
who prepped at Nesho-
ba Central High School,
was second on the team
with 14 points per game
for the Warriors. He led

McCa-
rty,a 6-7 |
guard
out of
Quitman
High
School,
averaged
nearly a, Oe?
13 pants MCCARTY

rebounds a game.

onthe base paths as No. >
13 East Central went 4-0
with sweeps of Southwest
Mississippi Community
College and Holmes Com-
munity College.

For the week, Ball hit
.625 (10-16) with three
doubles, a triple, anda
home run. He knocked in
eight runs and also scored
10 runs. He stole two bas-
es. Ball hit for the cycle
(single, double, triple,
home run) over the two
games against Southwest,
and he had a walk-off

single in the bottom of the
seventh to help the War-
riors beat Holmes 3-2 in
game two of the series.

Marsh hamed
MACJC Pitcher
of the Week

East
Central
Com-
munity
College
soph-
omore
right-

Sissippi

i Commun;
aes Colleges Ba: 7m
itcher of the WwW at
au 12-18, ii
_ & Universit
. ;
es Monroe ioe
e Cormorant Pitched
1

shutout nthe

gave up Week
Struck out 15 baits ca
rg,

April 2018

The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College

Page 7

ECCC dedicates

Lucille Wood
Tennis Court

ommunity College officially
Wood Court on Tuesday,
llege’s new Tennis Com-

East Central C
dedicated Lucille
March 20, at the co

mpus. te-
plex on ca ‘cht courts at the new state-

One of the og og named in recognition

gift to the college from

f chet East Central

A 1951 graduate 0 two-sport star

College. Wood was a
acne at eee oach at her alma mater.
pionship vines of Louisville, served as
Woodni aa en’s tennis coach at Hast

m 1957-76, club volleyball coach
Centra} aa 1, and led the womens basket-
Dav ee m 1958-85. Two of her womens
ball tea : ms won state club titles and
basketball ea Junior College Athletic
titles Several other of her

wome das :
She also cones q five of her tennis players
ball in 1970, ate championships.
won ind! : da pioneer in womens
She is consider 4 towards the implemen-
athletics ee Title IX ruling for colleges in
tation OF *”,
MississiPP!- member of the National Junior
Wood 18 & ic Association Women’s Bas-

t
college nee Hall of Fame, Mississippi
ketba

Central who also was a cham-

Community College Sports Hall of Fame, and
ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame. The college’s
Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium was named in
honor of Wood and Denver Brackeen in 1988. 1969.
The new ECCC Tennis Complex opened in
February 2017 on the north side of campus
between the softball and baseball complexes.
The Tennis Complex includes eight lighted
courts to serve the ECCC men’s and women’s
varsity tennis teams, as well as the campus
and local communities. The facility includes

East Central Community College President Dr. Billy Stewart, right and Jim Wood, unveil the new
sign marking the Wood Court at the new Tennis Complex on campus.

parking and spectator areas, which were very
limited at the former four-court tennis com-
plex on campus that was originally built in

A fundraising effort is underway to fund
the construction of a building near the main
entrance of the new Tennis Complex to house
men’s and women’s locker rooms, coach’s
office, team meeting room, concessions area,
and restrooms, as well as name the remaining
seven courts.

EC signs 21 new football players

East Central Community
College head football coach Ken
Karcher announced the addition
of 21 new members to the War-
rior football team on National
Signing Day Wednesday, Feb. 7.

The newcomers are all high
school seniors.

“We are excited to welcome
these 21 young men to our
football family,” said Karcher.
“Our staff did an excellent job in
finding young men who are good
football players and fit our mis-

sion. We are looking forward to
working with each one of them.

from Thomas County Central
High School in Thomasville, Ga.

* Cole Morgan, a 6-2,
245-pound defensive lineman
from East Webster High School
in Maben.

* David Nix, a 6-2, 245-pound
defensive lineman from South-
east Lauderdale High School in
Meridian.

* Isaac Patterson, a 6-1,
180-pound defensive back from
East Webster High School in
Maben.

* Fabian Pickering, a 6-2,
285-pound offensive lineman

WILLIAMS

From Page 6

Mississippi. He helped
lead Northwest to a 57-11
record over two years and
an appearance in the 1998
NJCAA Final Four in
Hutchinson, Kan., while
earning MACJC All-State
and NJCAA All-Region

23 and All-Tournament
honors.

At Ole Miss, he was
on the first Rebel bas-
ketball team to ever win
an NCAA Tournament
game in 1999 and on the
2000 team that played in
the National Invitational
Tournament.

Williams played profes-
sionally in South America
and Europe for a decade
before suffering a ca-
reer-ending knee injury
while playing for the
Leicester Riders in the
United Kingdom. While in
the United Kingdom, he
was an assistant coach for
one season for the Leices-
ter Riders and operated
a Basketball Academy
at Burleigh Community
College in Loughborough
for nearly four years.

He was named assistant
women’s basketball coach
at Holmes in July 2012.

“Coach Williams brings
to our coaching staff
a wealth of recruiting
experience in the state of
Mississippi,” said ECCC
Athletics Director Chris
Harris. “Having coached
and recruited in the MAC-
JC for the past six years

will give Coach Williams
the opportunity to come
in and immediately begin

recruiting quality stu-
dent-athletes and building
and sustaining a compet-
itive women’s basketball
program.”

Williams earned his
bachelor’s degree in Lei-
sure and Sports Manage-
ment from the University
of Mississippi and his
master’s in Snorte GCaarh.

EC PHOTO

SIGN WITH BELHAVEN — East Central Community College men’s soccer
players Jacob Thomas (right) and Tyler White have signed to continue their
careers for the NCAA Division III Belhaven University Blazers in Jackson,
Miss. The pair helped lead the Warriors to 19 wins and appearances in the
Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state playoffs
the past two years, including an MACJC North Division title in fall 2017.
Thomas, who prepped at Northwest Rankin, was a standout midfielder for
the Warriors. He had 17 points in 16 matches for East Central, including
five goals and seven assists. He was named First Team MACJC All-State
and selected to play in the MACJC All-Star Game following his sophomore
season. He received the team’s Best Defense Award at the Fall Sports
Awards Banquet on campus and was named team captain. Thomas was

Iso named MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State and received the
Re | Junior College Athletic Association Award for Superior Academic
Natons t. White, who played his high school soccer at Madison-Ridge-
Bowley ns tandout defender for East Central. His play during

as
Han 7 season eared him a spot in the MACJC All-Star Game and on
e

the NJCAA All-Region 2
honors following

3 Team. White earned MACUJC Academic All-State
his sophomore season.

ast Central Community Col-
ntly to continue his football

E- Form
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lege defensV" "College im 7 school, had’ “mother, Angela Leflore.
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Players signing with ECCC
Feb. 7 include:

* Justin Davis, a 6-2,
280-pound offensive lineman
from Noxubee County High
School in Macon.

* Alvin Dempsey, a 6-1,
285-pound defensive lineman

from Port St. Joe High School in

Florida.

* Jamarvis Echols, a 6-2,
210-pound wide receiver/tight
end from North Panola High
School in Sardis.

+ Jarvis Echols, a 6-2,
205-pound wide receiver/tight
end from North Panola High
School in Sardis.

* Dominic Eiland, a 6-1,
330-pound offensive lineman

from Philadelphia High School. —

+ Dontrell Green, a 6-2,
185-pound wide receiver from
Yazoo County High School in
Yazoo City.

- Fred Green, a 6-0,
170-pound defensive back from
D'Iberville High School.

* Jamar Jackson, a 6-0,
165-pound defensive back from
George County High School in
Lucedale.

* Elijah Keyes, a 5-8,

205-pound linebacker from Mize

High School.
* Martavous McCray, a 6-1,
280-pound defensive lineman

WAAR Ar ww 8 ey oe

270-pound defensive lineman
from Greene County High
School in Eutaw, Ala.

* Tyler Reynolds, a 6-3,
320-pound offensive lineman
from Manchester Academy in
Yazoo City.

* Payton Rogers, a 6-0,
220-pound linebacker from For-
est High School.

* Cortney Smith, a 5-10,
205-pound running back from
Philadelphia High School.

* Miles Smith, a 6-0,
245-pound defensive lineman
from Noxubee County High
School in Macon.

- Ronnie Thomas, a 6-0,
260-pound defensive lineman
from Clinton High School.

* Tyrese Winford, a 6-1,
185-pound quarterback from

' Callaway High School in Jack-
son.

The East Central Community
College Warriors open the 2018
season on Thursday, Aug. 30,
when they travel to Senatobia to
take on Northwest Mississippi
Community College. Kickoff is
set for 6:30 p.m.

The first home football game
of 2018 is Thursday, Sept. 13,
when Southwest Mississippi
Community College visits Bailey
Stadium in Decatur for a 6:30

Williams hasadaugh- 4
ter, Lianna, whois seven. ®

SOFTBALL

From Page 6

out of Brookhaven hit a
two-run homer. A dou-
ble by Shelby Walters of
Northwest Rankin scored
a run, and another Hinds’
error scored the 10th East
Central run.

The Lady Warriors
added a couple of insur-
ance runs in the top of
the seventh on‘a two-run
homer from Obman.

Obman had three RBI
in the contest, while
Moore, Shell, and Walters
had two each.

Mackenzie Rousseau
(Houma, La., Vanderbilt
Catholic) picked up the
win in the circle for East
Central.

Most home softball
games can be heard on
WKOZ Cruisin 98.3 or
via audio stream and live

stream video at www.eccc.

p.m. kickoff.

edu/eccc-media.

UWA’s Rundles speaks at First Pitch Dinner

Gary Rundles, head base-
ball coach at the University
of West Alabama, was the
featured speaker at the annual
East Central Community
College Baseball First Pitch
Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday,
Jan. 26. The event was held in
the Mabry Memorial Cafeteria.

In addition to dinner and
Rundles’ address, ECCC Head
Baseball Coach Neal Holliman
introduced his 2018 team and
the 2018 Diamond Darlings,
along with other special pre-
sentations and recognition.
Holliman played collegiately
at the University of West
Alabama and was a one-time
assistant to Rundles.

Rundles has more than 40
years of coaching experience,
including 17 at the University
of West Alabama in Living-
ston, where he has won 577
games and made six NC
Regional appearances.

In all, Rundles has coached
1,562 games as a collegiate
head coach. He is 577-336 1

17 years at West Alabama
and 949-613 in 30 years as a
college head coach.

Rundles has been inducted
into the Tennessee Baseball
Coaches Hall of Fame, the
Central (Tenn.) High School
Hall of Fame, the Greater
Chattanooga Area Sports Hall
of Fame and UWA Athletic
Hall of Fame.

He has guided the Tigers to
regional berths in two of the
last three years, including an
NCAA South Region final in
2017. The 2015 season was one
of the top in Rundles’ decorat-
ed career. He led the Tigers
to a nation-leading 20-game
winning streak and a 42-11
record before losing in the
South Regional to eventual
national champion University
of Tampa.

Along the way, UWA cap-
tured both the regular season
and Gulf South Conference
tournament titles. Rundles
also earned 2015 GSC Coach
of the Year honors.

In 2009, Rundles guided the
Tigers to a 38-16 record and
a berth in the NCAA South
Regional along with a confer-
ence tournament appearance.
It was the fourth regional bid
for UWA while under Rundles
direction. In 2008, Rundles
directed UWA to a 45-13 re-
cord and an appearance in the
NCAA South Central Regional
in Cleveland, Miss. The 45
wins tied the school record set
in 2005.

In 2007, Rundles led UWA
to the Gulf South Conference
East Division crown. The
Tigers compiled a 41-16 record
and earned a spot in the GSC
Tournament Championship
Game. In 2006, Rundles guid-
ed the Tigers to a 42-22 record,
including a runner-up finish
in the GSC Tournament and
a berth in the South Central
Regional. His 2005 team also
won the GSC Tournament and
posted a 45-19 record en route
to an NCAA regional tourna.
ment berth.

Page 8 The Tom-Tom: A Student Publication of East Central Community College April 2018

THE LITTLE MERMAID — The East Central Community College Encore Players presented “The Little Mermaid” M i i

campus. Cast members included Kaishanna Young (Ariel), Wesley Akins (Jetsam) and Jonathan Hall (Scceranene, Prinses a ue Auditorium on the
Marzell Triplett (King Triton) of Forest; Ellie Hall (Ursula) of Mendenhall; Madison George (Flotsam) and Molly Catherine Cliburn (Aquata) b in addis (Prince Eric) of Ovie
Maggie Gressett (Arista), Emma Kate Williams (Windward), and Mark Savell (Leeward), all of Lake; Kaitlyn Morris (Scuttle) of Conehatta: Mi or oan: Caleb Williams (FI
bling-Jordan (Atina), both of Newton; Jack Vidals (Pilot) of Chunky; Savanna Baucum (Allana) of Decatur; Julia Galarza (Andrina) of Barchioka cae (Grimsby) and M

of Starkville. Sea Creatures included Macie Pilgrim and Mason Pilgrim, both of Union; Noah Skipper of Decatur; and Maddie Walton, Harper Gitbe eau aa SS ivleubard
: rey Gibbs, all

EC PHOTO
Decatur
do, Fla.;
ounder),
eilii Tum-
y (Adella)
of Lake.

EC PHOTO

ECCC STUDENTS TO PRESENT SOPHOMORE RECITALS - East Central Community 010
College music students (from left) Kaishanna Young, Michaela Phillips, Ellie Hall and EC Pi

Jeremy Collins will present their sophomore recitals at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2018, PRESENT SOPHOMORE RECITALS — East Central Community College music students

in the Vickers Fine Arts Genter Auditorium. Young Is from Philadelphia and a graduate of (from left) Grace Addy, Wesley Akins and Jonathan Hall presented their sophomore re-

tol School. Her ve esentation will include the following selections: “| _citals Thursday, April 19, 2018, in the Vickers Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Addy is from

er Geo ideric Han VieniAl Carthage and is a graduate of Leake Central High School. Her piano presentation includ-

rom je” by Bach, “th ings” by Aram Khachaturian, and “Sonatina” by Clementi.

) jraduate of Neshoba Central High School. He presenta

of Mendenhall High School. Her selections for French horn include “Reveries” by Alex-
ander Glazunoy, “Villanelle” by Paul Dukas and “Star Wars” by John Williams. Collins is
from Forest and a graduate of Scott Central High School. He will present selections for
baritone including “Honor and Arms” by George Frideric Handel, “The Sorcerer’s Appren-
tice” by Paul Dukas, “Andante and Allegro” by Robert Clerisse, and “The Addams Family
Theme” by Vic Mizzy.

ECCC SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM GRADUATES ~ Graduates of East Central Community College’s Sur- of the Y;

gical Technology Program received special recognition at the annual pinning ceremony held recently on the Decatur a
campus, Students who completed the 12-month program and their respective hometowns include (first row, from left)
Baylee Buckley of Lake, Sam Copeland of Niceville, Fla., Sarah Laird of Meridian, Alexus Evans of Newton, Aleia Mc- Settings. Sh :
Lemore of Union, Ashley Watkins of Conehatta, Kalee Stennis of Louisville, Stacey Joyner of Dekalb; and (back row Loken
from left) Brianna Moody of Philadelphia, Andie Adcock of Conehatta, Lacey Burton of Newton, Meagan Kilpatrick af grim. The pr,

Conehatta, Krystal Lundy of Meridian, Le’Ann Boyles of Lake, Tara Shempert of Philadelphia, KeShonda Wilson of Lou- annual bina
isville, Merceydys Rasco of Newton. LeAnn Shirley and Kristie Pilgrim serve as instructors.

AGO RY PAU TAMMY, FMIGGINS Cl AMMeYyTO DY Dalat ana Liebestfaum by Liszt. Mis
performance also included percussion selections which included “Firefly” by Mitchell Pe-
ters, “Gliding” by Brett William Dietz and “Buckingham Palace” by Lalo Davila. Hall is
from Philadelphia and a graduate of Philadelphia High School. He performed percussion
selections including “Tork” by James Campbell, “Ghost Garden” by Adam Hopper, “Asi
Bailo Yo” by Lalo Davila and “Sabre Dance from Gayane Ballet” by Aram Khachaturian
arranged by Morris Goldenberg.

og

~ EGPHOTO
BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM — Members of the East Central Community College Gospel Choir performed during the

college’s annual Black History Month program held in the Vickers Fine Arts Center auditorium. Brenda Johnson serves
as gospel choir sponsor. Jerry Smith of Philadelphia, vice chairman of the ECCC Board of Trustees, served as guest
speaker.

m, Calif. Christy

Fortenberry and Jud

dvisors.

RECEIVES
Sarah Laird
ECPHOTO § eceived for

EC SURGIC
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at East Urgical Te Cate
was presented thealawacn al ommunity,o° tude”
excellence in the class, IN Tecognition 6 Ollege ont
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